Two teenage hikers rescued from Capitol Peak early Wednesday

[Rock-a-Fella]

To the credit of these two, they did identify that the "next decision" could be their last and they called for help. That said, there is merit to the discussion of "how" they got themselves to that point.

#1 reason for incidents: Lack of familiarity with routes, trails and terrain #2 Voluntary separation (people splitting up and solo climbers)


2017 was one of the deadliest seasons on Capitol Peak. It felt as if each event attracted more who wanted to try it. There were many discussions about shortcuts, signs, climbing with people you really didn't know very well......and the usual discussion banter. That season there were at least 2 shortcut attempts where those attempting KNEW of tragic events of past weeks or days, discussed past error while moving on the mountain (this is where this or that happened) and attempted shortcuts anyway.

These are activities where one's "Heuristic Traps" reveal themselves. In mountaineering and climbing the consequences always include death. The question for each of us becomes what is the likelihood of this happening to me on this day, in these conditions, on this route, with this or these partners. We add in "insurance" in the form of peak and route selection to match our personal or group skills, fitness.(or not).....add in adjuncts equipment (crampons, axes, ropes, anchors, etc.) or not. The one piece of equipment that is difficult to substitute or purchase is.....experience. (You can purchase experience in the form of a guide) There is only so much one can take away from groups and chats. Its better when you know what you don't know

[onebyone]

Glad to hear they are ok but another reminder that there are no shortcuts on Capital...

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/two-tee ... wednesday/

I have repeated this to many friends. And on many mountains. If that way was "shorter" then that would be the way. Even when it goes, it is rarely "faster" that a solid constructed trail.

[onebyone]

People make decisions based on emotions not on facts presented to them and people get into trouble because of that all the time. You can’t avoid it. Ever have a trip where 5 miles up seems to go by quickly, but a half a mile back feels like forever? You get anxious that you’ll never get finished and then you start creating options out of thin air.

100%

A number of years back, I was out with a new partner doing a snowy scramble that was taking longer than we expected when a storm started to come in. Down climbing the ridge would’ve been very tedious and slow going. My partner wanted to bail down a steep, loose gully that looked absolutely awful to me. We were close to easier terrain at that point and I knew we’d be able to run down from the summit so I pushed for us to press on. She accused me of having summit fever and we almost parted ways. When we looked down that gully we each saw something very different and there was no way I was going to bail down that death trap. I think about that situation a lot when I hear about stuff like this.

That's called experience ha ha. We've all done the "shortcut." Both up and down. And 95% it is not faster. Just more misery and cursing.